Real Madrid won 2-1 against Alavés at Mendizorroza, easing the pressure on Xabi Alonso and securing three important points in La Liga. The victory was built in the second half, with two Brazilians taking center stage: Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo. Vini created the play, and Rodrygo finished it off, in a move that highlighted the team’s trust in its young talents. With the win, Madrid maintained its four-point gap behind Barcelona, now with 39 points.
Mbappé opens the scoring, but the game remains open
Real Madrid took the field with the goal of winning, but without the luxury of dominating from start to finish. The team began with Mbappé pressing early on. The French forward once again showed how quickly he’s adapted to La Liga. Just 24 minutes in, after a beautiful pass from Bellingham, Mbappé made it 1-0 with a precise shot, putting the team ahead.
However, despite the strong performance, Real Madrid couldn’t close out the game, and Alavés grew into the match in the second half of the first half, troubling goalkeeper Courtois. The equalizer didn’t come before the break thanks to a crucial save from the Belgian after a flurry of shots from Ibáñez.
Vini rises, Rodrygo finishes, and Real escapes with the three points
The second half brought a new Real Madrid, more intense and with Vini Jr. leading the offensive plays. The Brazilian, who hadn’t had much of an impact in the first half, came alive in the second and was the one who assisted Rodrygo’s goal in the 79th minute.
The play was simple yet brilliant. Vini, at full speed, cut to the byline and made a precise backheel pass to Rodrygo, who finished coolly. The goal confirmed the good form of both players, who continue to be key for Madrid’s season.
The win seemed assured, but the game still had a controversial moment. In the 86th minute, Vini was brought down in the box, a clear penalty, but the referee and VAR didn’t call the foul. In the end, the victory was confirmed, and Real left with the three points, despite the scare from Alavés’ equalizer.
With this result, Madrid continues to chase Barcelona and maintains a positive outlook for the upcoming challenges. Xabi Alonso still has work to do, but the relief came at the right time. The team showed resilience, even in a game they didn’t fully dominate. But with the quality of players like Mbappé, Vini, and Rodrygo, the win was what mattered most for a team that remains firmly in the title race.